Are you kidding! It's the Jeep Panda/Phoenix that's all the rage now!!!! (just kidding on the rage thing)

I personally think it will be somewhat unlikely but who knows what is happening inside the Fiat brain trust these days.

 

A Fiat pick up---Just the thing for taking your Grapes & Spaghetti home.......

 

Grapes and spaghetti... hmmm... I assume the grapes are not in a fermented state?

 

That vehicle has received more positive feedback than anything they have come up with in years. Obviously Daimler had no desire to pack dealerships with customers waving fist fulls of cash. Perhaps Fiat will feel differently.

 

For those who have no clue what we are talking about... I present to you... The Gladiator.

And in 2005, this was the Compass Crossover concept...

 

For those who have no clue what we are talking about... I present to you... The Gladiator.

After seeing these pics, there may be hope. The 'first' Gladiator I saw was a "TJ" based model. This one is clearly a "JK" based model. If they have no intentions of building it, why UPDATE IT to a current platform?:icon_rolleyes:

 

Personally, I've got my heart set on the Rescue...but I think the Rescue is the least likely to be produced of all the concepts...

 

The Rescue looks mean enough to get an H1 out of trouble. That is a sick looking jeep for sure. I like the Gladiator too though.

 

The Rescue isn't that far off of a Wrangler Unlimited with a hardtop. You can get one of those TODAY.

The Gladiator? That's a whole different story. The reason I had heard that it wasn't built originally was that they didn't have a platform already in place to use and it would be too costly to build an all new one only for that project. Enter the Wrangler Unlimited.

I said several times that I see no reason they couldn't use the Unlimited frame, just rework the body and add a bed. SWEET! :smiley_thumbs_up:

Hey Jeep, YA LISTENIN'?:icon_rolleyes:

 

Ya'll got it all wrong... Being I'm from Florida, it's all about the Hurricane!

Unveiled at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit by Jeep.
It has two 5.7 HEMI engines, one forward and one aft. It also has front and rear steering, a carbon fiber body, 305/70R20 tires, and the envy of EVERY off-roader.

Source

 

Looks like a Liberty on steroids... I like it! I can see myself driving up to work in one!

 

Wasn't the Rescue based on a Dodge truck chassis with the Cummins? (for the record,I have nothing against this idea )

The "back seats" are a joke,get rid of 'em,more room to carry stuff.

DOT'll never allow the side mounted spare,but darn it looks retro cool.

I do think the AEV conversations of TJs look better.

 

Wasn't the Rescue based on a Dodge truck chassis with the Cummins? (for the record,I have nothing against this idea )

Yes, I believe it was originally based on the Ram platform. The Gladiator, I believe, was also based on the Dakota platform.

 

I've always been partial to the Willys II Concept.....but then again, I DID own this Compass too.

 

Regarding those who DON'T know what the Jeep "Rescue" Concept is:

"Hummer envy anyone? This massive tank looks like a Wrangler that's taken more steroids than Barry Bonds, and shows that Jeep is tired of Hummer ruling as king of the off-road. The vehicle is based on the Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty and uses the same 5.9-liter Cummins turbo-diesel. It is loaded with gadgets like under-chassis cameras, infrared cameras, remote-control winches, and adjustable ride height. Rumor has it that this could be a preview of a plus-size Grand Cherokee variant."

 

There is a Jeep Renegade concept also... but I don't like it much. Hurricane looks much much better IMO.

 

I personally love the Renegade, I'd buy one in a heartbeat! It's a roadster with enough flex and ground clearance to give a Wrangler a run for it's money, powered by a diesel hybrid system that gets 100 MPG? WANT.

Anyways, I honestly think the best course of action for Chrysler is to kill the Dakota and replace it with a new Gladiator. Look at the Dakota's sales numbers-the Tacoma is kicking it's butt 7 ways from Sunday, and to even get close to the Tacoma, it'd have to knock off the Frontier, Canyon/Colorado, Ranger and, in all likelyhood, the new Maihndrana diesel midsize pickups that are coming in the next year. When you can buy a Ram with the same cab style, a bigger engine and virtually the same mileage for not a whole lot more, there is damn near no reason to buy a Dakota.

On the other hand, look at the response to the Gladiator, and the success of conversion kits like the AEV Brute and Rubitrux, not to mention the phenomenal sales of the 4-door JK. Hell, if they want to keep it simple and outfitted similar to the Dakota, replace the cargo area with a Brute-style bed, kind of along the lines of the Explorer Sport-Trac or the older Toyota Hiluxes.

 

Jeep seem to have some great Ideas. If only some of them could make it into production. I hope FIAT dont go in with blinkered vision. They have to remember that Jeep is an American Icon not!! an Italian one. I think if the Gladiator went into production ( At the right price)customers would be lining up outside the doors!!

 

Not only in the US but I would also think in EU/Asia/AU also.

 

The next auto shows where Fiat is involved will tell us a lot. I really want to see the concept cars that come out next year. That is what will tell me if this was a good marriage or not.

 

Rescue looks pretty cool...but it would be a massive headache if i had that as my everyday commuter :doh:

 

I love all those concept vehicles. I wish they would make it to market someday...

 

the Gladiator is nice, but it needs more legroom to make the rear functional...

 

That is all a mater of choice. I hate extended cab pickups. Not to say they shouldn't off 2 models, one for each of us.

 

For those interested in the Hurricane concept, here a link to more photos: Jeep Hurricane Concept

For those interested in the Gladiator concept, here a link to more photos: Jeep Gladiator Concept

For those interested in the Rescue concept, here a link to more photos: Jeep Rescue Concept

For those interested in the Trailhawk concept, here a link to more photos: Jeep Trailhawk Concept

For those interested in the Renegade concept, here a link to more photos: Jeep Renegade Concept

For those interested in the Wrangler JT concept, here a link to more photos: Jeep Wrangler JT Concept

 

For those interested in the Hurricane concept, here a link to more photos: Jeep Hurricane Concept

For those interested in the Gladiator concept, here a link to more photos: Jeep Gladiator Concept



OK. I was wrong about "pure digital", but I don't think we'll see a real one.

 

Look at the posted picture of the Hurricane up above.

What is that "rock climbing" behind the Hurricane???????????? It's portrayed at almost a 90 degree angle! Hehehehe... Is that "Spider-Jeep"???

 

Is that "Spider-Jeep"???

Naw... That would be the other concept Jeep vehicle at the 2006 LA Auto Show... The 2005 Jeep Gladiator...

 

Fiat produce quite a few 4x4s large ones in the format of Iveco and small ones like the diesel 4x4 panda in Europe ,it looks good its good in the rough and is ideal for our smaller roads, Fiat in conjuction with Suzuki produce the Sedica or Sx4 which is a hatchback car which is higher of the ground and comes in 4x4. So you would think Fiat would understand the need to continue to develop the Patriot as it is compact ,fuel efficent and capable of road.

 

The gladiator is a go and will be built on the new dakota platform that has been down sized. The rescue is perminitly dead, and the hurricane is still ultra knarley with twin hemi engines.

 

Source?

 

You know, I love the Rescue. It looks awesome and I love the wheels...but where the heck is the spare? In fact, if it's supposed to be this ultimate off-road rescue vehicle, shouldn't it have two!?

 

Although, in his defense, I can make arguments for a Dakota-based Gladiator, or a return of the Gladiator at all.
-All the 'No, we're not making it' comments are 4 years old at this point and, more importantly, were made before the almost-cosmetically-identical JK started selling like mad.
-The Dakota is moving to a more car-like, 'lifestyle truck' chassis, more of a competitor to the Honda Ridgeline or Chevrolet Avalanche then against the Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier-one that will feature the new Pentastar engines and coil-based springs. It'd probably be easier to retrofit a new Dakota chassis with a front solid axel then stretch and rework the existing JK chassis.
-Compact trucks are slowly but steadily moving back up the demand list.
-Jeep is seeing some great sales now, and is being moved to a more well-rounded, but still off-road-oriented brand-see the plans for a Fiat Panda-based Jeep.
-Chrysler is spending like mad to develop new vehicles.
-There IS a 'Lifestyle Truck' list in the product map, and there's no brand name attached to it.

But points against:
-Having both the Dakota AND Gladiator is silly.
-Chrysler is putting every dollar they have into designing new vehicles, but most of that money is going to where Chrysler needs to add-compact cars.
-What do they need 5 different trucks for (Gladiator, Dakota and 3 sizes of Ram)

 

Having both the Dakota AND Gladiator is silly.
-Chrysler is putting every dollar they have into designing new vehicles, but most of that money is going to where Chrysler needs to add-compact cars.
-What do they need 5 different trucks for (Gladiator, Dakota and 3 sizes of Ram)

I agree.......if you want a FULL SIZE truck, you buy a Ram. If you want a smaller truck, buy the Gladiator. It's still keeping the $$ 'in house' and each division isn't fighting each other over sales.

I always thought years ago when they had the Plymouth Horizon and the Dodge Omni, that was the stupidest idea I had seen. More recently, having the Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Chrysler T&C was just as bad. It's pointless.....:doh:

 

The original and the 'toy' copy......

 

Don't forget the Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth Neon (They couldn't even be arsed to change the name...)

At least now when they dupe platforms, they put different bodies on each frame now. (Charger/300C, Patriot/Caliber/Compass, soon-to-be Grand Cherokee/Durango)

 

Are you kidding? Dodge sold only 26000 Dakotas last year. They sell twice as many Wranglers every month then they sell Dakotas every year. For reference, it's main competitor, the Toyota Tacoma, sells almost 3 times that many every month.

Not to mention that their sales numbers have been dropping like a stone for the past few years. Here's the yearly sales for the Dakota:

1999: 144,148
2000: 177,395
2001: 154,479
2002: 130,712
2003: 111,273
2004: 105,614
2005: 104,051
2006: 76,098
2007: 50,702
2008: 26,044

EDIT: And, for reference, top 20 sales numbers for July:
1. Ford F-Series – 215,959
2. Toyota Camry – 184,216
3. Chevrolet Silverado – 177,566
4. Honda Accord – 160,817
5. Corolla/Matrix – 151,236
6. Honda Civic – 148,496
7. Nissan Altima – 115,680
8. Dodge Ram Pickup – 112,239
9. Ford Fusion -102,756
10. Honda CR-V – 98,068
11. Ford Escape – 96,643
12. Chevrolet Impala – 93,336
13. Ford Focus – 91,184
14. Chevrolet Malibu – 91,168
15. Toyota RAV4 – 78,153
16. Toyota Prius – 74,924
17. Toyota Tacoma – 65,713
18. Honda Odyssey – 63,339
19. GMC Sierra – 60,532
20. Ford E-Series Van – 54,680

EDIT the Second: Also, note that now, in a recession, the Ram sells almost as many monthly as the Dakota did yearly in its best year.

 

EDIT the Second: Also, note that now, in a recession, the Ram sells almost as many monthly as the Dakota did yearly in its best year.

The Chrysler family of vehicles are popular with the government I believe. Now that the government is part owner, will be interesting to see how these numbers increase now. Wonder how much of the Ram numbers are government sales - if these sales are included in the statistics to begin with. When I say government, I mean federal and state. Here in PR for example I am starting to see more and more Dodge's as cop cars.